Scholarships

Generous parishes, groups and individuals in Australia and beyond provide funds for the Mary MacKillop East Timor Mission (MMETM) to support Timorese students.

Tertiary - Buka Matenek (Seeking Wisdom)

MMETM supports around 65 University students in Timor-Leste. Two-thirds of the students come from across the island, with one-third being born in Dili.   A number of these students need financial assistance for living expenses.

Supported students attend the National University (UNTL), the University of Peace (UNPAZ), the Dili University (UNDIL), the Dili Institute of Technology (DIT) or Institutu Ciencias Religiosas (ICR).

Assistance to the students of the Don Bosco Trade School at Comoro  is in the form of help with the cost of the tool kits which they use in their courses and which are presented to them upon graduating.

Schools

Many children do not go to school because their families cannot pay the small fee required per month.  Sometimes there is no school in the district or children have to walk many hours to the nearest school. Many children have to try to raise the money for their own fees e.g. by selling fruit or vegetables.  MMETM will continue to pay the school fees of children whose circumstances require it.

Local Catholic schools are dependent on the Parish for payment of teachers, but many parishes cannot afford the teachers they need.  In some places the Catholic school  is the only school available.  MMETM distributes part fees for teachers in some remote areas.  This helps teachers to provide for their families and will assist schools to remain open.